Choosing a video game console is a lot like choosing someone to date. Before you start, you have to ask yourself several important questions:

-Am I up for a high-maintenance relationship?
-Is physical interaction important to me?
-How much do I care about looks?
-Am I willing to do this if there are persistent problems?
-Is my new interest up for "playing" with my friends?
-Will this be a serious, long term relationship?

Answering these questions and considering the following points will put you in a better position to choose a console, for better or worse, 'till hardware malfunction do you part.

~Cost: Is your console a material girl?~

The first issue with choosing a console is cost. If you only have $45 lying around, there is no point in trying to decide if you want a $400 Xbox360 or a $500 PS3. If you cannot afford a system, simply don't buy one. Much like a spouse, there are a lot of hidden costs to buying a console. Extra controllers, new games, and other add-ons can very quickly add hundreds or thousands of dollars to the entry cost. That dinner and a movie you started with may lead to a diamond ring.

That said, if you have extra money budgeted for games, remember that value is just as important as features. Sure, if you have $700, you can buy the "best" PS3, but do you really need all the options it offers? If you don't think you will need the extra hard drive space or fancy media perks, don't spend the money. You could buy a $500 version, or a used console, and put the extra money towards games, accessories, or (heaven forbid) a savings account. Maybe for your tastes, $300 would best be spent on the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP (two portable systems) instead of all on a Wii or 360, if you like gaming on the go.

If you are working on a really tight budget and don't need the highest high-tech machine out there, consider buying an older game system. For $100 you could easily buy a used Dreamcast, PS2, XBox, or Gamecube, as well as an extra controller, a memory card, and the system's best 5 games! Part of the benefit of buying an older system is not just the savings, but also the value of hindsight. You can easily look up the games that scored "Editor's Choice" or "Game of the Year" and get an awesome experience for pennies. If you buy an even older console such as SNES, Sega Saturn, or TurboGrafx16, games will be so cheap you can be swimming in classics without breaking the bank.

~Genres: Girl next door or tall dark and handsome?~

Another thing to remember is that not every game system has the same strengths in each genre. If you are a die-hard racing simulator fan, for instance, you should steer clear of the Nintendo Wii, which has yet to sport a good tire-burner. The XBox has Forza, and Playstation is famous for Gran Turismo. Likewise if you are a fan of mini game collections, the Wii and 360 have an edge over the PS3.

As I mentioned before, don't forget about older consoles. Some of the best RPGs of all time were on the Playstation 2 and the Sega Saturn. A fan of arcade-perfect fighting games should opt for a a Dreamcast or Neo-Geo. Platformer fiends can't beat an NES, SNES, or Sega Genesis. Finally, those looking for a good puzzler should find a Playstation or an old Game Boy Advance.

~Playstyle: It's an open relationship~

When choosing a console, don't forget your play style. How do you intend to play your games? If your idea of gaming bliss is using a microphone to communicate to friends on-line while you hog a 50" plasma TV for yourself, and XBox or XBox360 would be best, due to their great graphics and excellent on-line options. If you want the ultimate in graphics, and want your system to also play movies on occasion, check out a PS2 or PS3. If you love playing with your whole family or all your dorm-mates in one room, a Wii or N64 make great additions to any living room. If you'd like to hang back and spend less time furiously punching buttons, the Nintendo DS might be for you, with its stylish stylus and "touch me" attitude.

That said, don't get sucked in by marketing. If you don't care about motion control, don't let Wii or PS3 ads trick you into buying their respective consoles. If the newest bleeding edge graphics are less important to you than replay value, or if you don't even have a TV that can take advantage of them, don't waste the money on an XBox 360. Ask yourself what your favorite gaming experiences in life were, and what was special about them. Use this information to make a smart choice.

~Exclusives: Going steady~

Every game system has "exclusives". These are games, series, or even whole development studios that are tied to the system by a contract. What this means for you, the consumer, is that you must choose carefully if you plan to play these games. If you love Legend of Zelda, good luck buying a Sony PSP. Likewise, if you own every Final Fantasy known to man, buying an XBox360 is not a good bet in terms of getting to play "Final Fantasy 47: XB".

Weigh your choice of exclusives. You may be addicted to "Gran Turismo" from the Playstation, but maybe if you try Forza or Sega GT on the XBox, you'll find you don't mind the differences. Don't buy a system just for one game; weigh your series' loyalty against the whole library of current and future games for each system you're considering. Signing up for one system is like marrying its exclusive developers. You can always get a divorce later, but it will cost you.

~Extras: What ya gonna do with all that junk?~

Every system has "extra" features that no other systems have, and this can be the deciding factor. Some of these things will make or break your enjoyment of gaming, so here's a quick list of major features of some present and past systems:

Playstation 3: HD graphics, motion control, BluRay movies, PSP connection, plays PS2 games
Nintendo Wii: motion control, Virtual Console (retro games), WiFi, Miis, plays Gamecube games
XBox360: XBox Live with Achievements, Live Arcade downloads, faceplates, plays XBox games
Nintendo Gamecube: portable, compatible with Gameboy Advance
Microsoft XBox: XBox live, plays DVDs, hard drive allows personalized game soundtracks
Playstation 2: plays DVDs, vast game library, space-saving design
Sega Dreamcast: VMU memory card is portable game system, on-line gaming/web surfing

When all is said and done, only you can choose which system or systems are right for you. Look at your bank statement, read up on the latest news, and think about what you want out of a gaming console. Last but not least, don't forget to take a test run. If you can play a new (or old!) system at a friend's house or on a store display, the experience could make or break the deal. Check it out and start working on those high scores.